Hydraulic turbo-couplings



March 7, 1961 H slNcLAlR 2,973,626

HYDRAULIC TURBO-COUPLINGS Original Filed March 3l, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1March 7, 1961 H. slNcLAlR 2,973,626

HYDRAULIC TURBO-COUPLINGS Original Filed March 31, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2/N VEN TOR A T TOR/VE Y 2,973,626 HYDRAULIC TURBO-COUPLINGS .'HaroldSinclair,'Windsor, England, i Phllirnore Gardens Close, London W. 8,England) original application Mar. 31, 1954, ser. No.'4zo,173. Dividedand this application Sept. 30, 1958, Ser. No. 764,340 Y 1 Claims'priority, application Great Britain- Apr. 2, 1953 z claims. (ci. en -s4)This invention relates to power transmission systems la powertransmission system incorporating two turbo couplings which areadapted'for being operated in such manner that the working circuitofeither coupling can be full withthe working circuit of the othercoupling empty,

and additionally both working circuits can be simultane-f ously empty.Such a system may for example be em- 'ployed for providing powertransmission from a prime mover to a driven member through two powerpaths of different speed ratios.

In order that'the invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect it will nowA be described in more detail withreference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate diagrammatically a power transmission systemaccording to the invention, the respectiVe figures showing differentsettings of the system, l

corresponding respectively to neutral, low speed drive and high speeddrive.

Referring to the drawings, the, power transmission system illustratedcomprises two turbo couplings indicated generally at A and Brespectively, comprising vaned impellers and vaned runners which deiinetoroidal Working circuits 20 and 20' as is well known in the art. Theinput shaft 4 is drivably connected to the impellers 1 and 1'respectively ofthe turbo couplings A and B, through annular casings 2'and 2. The runner 3 of turbo coupling A -is drivably connected to anoutput shaft 6, vand the runner 3 of turbo coupling B is drivablyconnected to an output sleeveshaft 10. The turbo couplings'are` providedwith scoop tubes 21 and 21' which `are slidable longitudinally in fixedscoop tube housings 11 and 11 so that their scooping orifices can beinserted into or withdrawn from rotatable scoop chambers 34 and 34'which are formed by the annular casings 2 and 2' and further casings '7and 7'. The casing 7, which is drivably connected to the shaft 4 forrotation therewith, through the casing 2 is formed "to provide, inaddition to the scoop chamber 34, a rotatable annular reservoir chamber18 which in the example illustratedprojects partly over the turbocoupling B. The turbo coupling B has no reservoir chamber. The reservoir18 is in unrestricted communication with the scoop tube chamber 34 andworking circuit 20 of turbo coupling A through large ports 19 in casing2, and the scoop chamber 34' of turbo coupling B is in unrestrictedcommunication with'the working circuit of turbo coupling B through largeports 35 in the casing 2'. The scoop tubes 21 and 21 are operatedrespectively by means of hydraulic double-acting servo cylinders 33 and33'- controlled byl servo control mech# anism 8 and 8' respectively.

A partition 9 divides the space within the casing 2 and 2 2' into twoworking chambers, one for each of the turb couplings A and B, it beingobserved that the term working chamber is to be distinguished from theterm working circuit which refers to the toroidal space formed betweenthe impeller and runner.

The rotatable annular reservoir chamber 18 is locatedIradially-outwardly relative to the working chambers ofthe turbocouplings, and has a volumetric capacity equal to that of the workingchamber of turbo coupling B and of the scoop chamber 34'. A pump 30delivers working4V liquid from a sump 25 to an annular duct 22 in theVstationary scoop tube housing `11, the duct 22 communicating' with theinterior of the scoop tube 21. An annular duct in the stationary scooptube housing 11' communicates with the interior of the scoop tube 21.connects the annular ducts 22 and 22', and a branchv pipe 28 leading tothe sump 25 is provided with a valve 29.

The arrangement shown is suitable for use with a change speed gear suchthat drive via input shaft 4, turbo coupling A and output shaft 6provides high speed gear and drive via input shaft 4, turbo coupling Band output sleeve shaft. 10 provides low speed gear.-

Figure l shows the neutral condition, in which the scoop tube 21 iswithdrawn from the reservoir chamber 18 but is fully inserted into'itsscoop chamber v34, and scoop tube 21 is fully insertedinto its scoopchamber The reservoir chamber 18 is full of working liquid and bothworking circuits 2t) and Ztl' are empty, surplus oil delivered by thepump 30 being returned to the sump 25 via the pipe 27 and branch pipe 28the valve 29 being opened when the scoop tubes are set for the neutralcondition.

To set'the system for driving in low speed gear, the servo controlmechanisms 8 and 8' are operated so that the hydraulic cylinders 33 and33' function to insert the scoop tube 21 fully into the reservoirchamber 18, and to f `f retract the scoop tube 21' from its scoopchamber 34'.

Valve 29 is closed (Figure 2). The liquid in reservoir chamber 18 isthereby rapidly transferred to the turbo coupling B, via scoop tube 21,annular duct 22, pipe 27,

' annular duct 22' and scoop tube 21', thereby filling the 8 and 8' areoperated to cause the hydraulic cylinders 33 and 33" to function so asto insert scoop tube 21 fully into its scoop chamber 34', and to fullyretract the scoop tube 21 from its scoop chamber 34, as shown in Figure3. Thereby, all the working liquid in turbo coupling B is transferred tocoupling A, via scoop tube 2i', annular duct 22', pipe 27, Iannular duct22 and scoop tube 21. Since reservoir 18 is already full, the workingcircuit of turbo coupling A fills rapidly for the transmission of powerfrom input shaft 4 to output shaft 6.

To change back to drive in low speed gear via sleeve shaft 10, the scooptube 21 is inserted as far as the position shown in Figure l, and thescoop tube 21' is fully withdrawn as shown in Figure 2, so that turbocoupling Avis emptied and turbo coupling B is filled, by the transfer ofthe working liquid in coupling A to coupling B, via the scoop tube 21,annular duct 22, pipe 27, annular duct and scoop tube 21. Reservoirchamber '18 remains When the system is stopped, both scoop tubes 21 and21' are set to the positions shown in Figure l, and valve 29 is opened,so that both turbo couplings are emptied to the sump 25 but thereservoir chamber 18 remains full in rtei'iieajMaav, V1961 A pipe 27inter,-vv

readiness for rapid transfer of working, liquid therefrom Thisapplication is a divisional` of application Serial No. 420,173, filedMarch 3l,A 1954.

I claim: i

1. A power transmission system comprising two axiallyv aligned turbocouplings supported in bearings within a casing; a sump in said casing;a duct havingV a pump therein for feeding working liquid from said sumpto said' turbo couplings; valve means for controlling the return ofworking liquid from said turbo couplings to said sump; each of saidturbo couplings comprising a vaned impeller and a vaned runner whichencloses a toroidal workingcircuit; casing means drivably connected.tothe impeller of each coupling for rotation therewith and forming aworking chamber for the coupling, means' forming-an annular scoopchamber drivably connected to the impeller of each coupling for rotationtherewith and in free uid communication with the working chamber of itscoupling, and. an adjustable scoop tube for each scoop chamber having ascooping orifice and an outlet orice; the impellers of said couplingsbeing drivably connected to one anotherA for rotation together; ductmeans interconnecting the outlet orifices of said scoop tubes; scooptube adjusting means for the scoop tube in one of said couplingsoperable to adjust the scooping orifice of its scoop tube selectivelyinto or out of its scoop chamber; a reservoir chamber, radiallyoutwardly of the working chamber of said other coupling, drivablyconnected to the impeller of said other coupling for rotation therewith,in free fluid communication with the scoop. chamber of said othercoupling and having a volumetric capacity substantially equal to thevolumetric capacity of. the working chamber and scoop chamber of saidone coupling; and scoop tube adjusting means for the scoop tube of saidother couplingoperable to adjust the scooping oriice of its scoop tubeselectively into or out of its scoop chamberl or` into said reservoir.

2. A power transmission system comprising two axially gemene 4 alignedturbo couplings supported in bearings within a casing; a sump in saidcasing; a duct for feeding working liquid from said sump to said turbocouplings; valve means for controlling the return of working liquid fromsaid turbo couplings toV said sump; each of said turbo couplingscomprising a vaned impeller and a vaned runner which enclose a1 toroidalworking circuit, casing means drivably connected to the impeller of eachcoupling for rotation therewithand-forming a working chamber for thecoupling, means forming an annular scoop chamber dr-ivablyconnected tothe impeller-of eaclrcoupling for rotation therewith and in free lluidcommunication with the working chamber of its coupling, and anadjustable scoop tube for each scoop chamber having a scooping orificeandan outlet orifice; the impellers of said couplings being drivablyconnected to one another for rotation together; duct meansinterconnecting the outlet orifices of said scoop tubes; scoop tubeadjusting means for the scoop tube in one of said couplings operable'toadjust the scooping orifice of its scoop tube selectively into or out ofits scoop chamber; a reservoir chamber, radially'outwardly of theworking chamber of said other coupling, drivably connected to theimpeller of said other coupling for rotation therewith, in free iluidcommunication` with the scoop chamber of said other coupling and havinga volumetric capacity substantially equal to the volumetric capacity ofthe working chamber and scoop chamber of said one coupling; scoop tubeadjusting means for the scoop tube of said other coupling operable toadjust the scooping orifice of its scoop tube selectively into or out ofits-scoop chamber or into said reservoir; and a pump operative to supplyworking liquid from said sump to said reservoir chamber to refill saidreservoir -chamber when liquid therein has beentransferred to theworking chamber of said one coupling.

References Cited in the le of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS;

815,133 Germany Sept. 27, 1951

